She completed her obstetric residency at the old Women's Hospital of Maryland, which is now part of Greater Baltimore Medical Center, and a residency in gynecology at a Detroit hospital in 1946.

Dr. Brian, who was known professionally as Dr. Margaret Paxson, began her medical career in 1946 with Planned Parenthood of Maryland. She later established family planning clinics for health departments in Baltimore City, and Cecil and Howard counties.

Dr. Brian spoke widely on family planning issues and human sexuality.

"She always said, 'Whatever the cause, it's a lost cause without family planning,' and 'Every child should be a wanted child,'" said a daughter, Penny Brian Anderson of Sacramento.

Dr. Brian retired in 1988.

In 1940, she married Harry F. Brian, who later became president of VanSant, Dugdale & Co., a Baltimore advertising agency. He died in 1989.

Dr. Brian and her husband enjoyed hiking and were world travelers.

The longtime Rider Avenue resident, who moved to the Broadmead retirement community in Cockeysville in 1993, had been living in Sacramento since last year.

She was a member for many years of Hunt's Memorial United Methodist Church in Riderwood, where she also volunteered. When her children were growing up, she was a Girl Scout leader for a decade.

Services are private.

Also surviving are another daughter, Bonnie Brian-Caldwell of Seattle; and five grandsons. Her son, Terry Brian, died in 2008.